Jackson Free Press

Some Mississippi voters received incomplete absentee ballot packets in the mail. An error in preparing the packets left out information about the fiscal impact of the three initiatives on the ballot.

Before each election, the Secretary of State's office prepares ballots and sends them to the county circuit clerks. The circuit clerks then have absentee ballots printed and send them to people who request them.

Last Friday, the Mississippi attorney general's office contacted the secretary of state's office saying the fiscal analysis for the three ballot initiatives should be included on the ballot, a statement from Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said.

The fiscal analysis from the Legislative Budget Office determined that Initiatives 26 and 31, dealing with personhood and eminent domain, respectively, will have no determinable cost or revenue impact. The office estimates that Initiative 27, which would require people to present photo identification in order to vote, will cost $1.49 million to cover free ID cards for people who do not have them.

Pamela Weaver, spokesperson for the Secretary of State's office, said some people got absentee ballots without the fiscal analysis information, but ballots sent out from now on will include an addendum with the information. Some counties will reprint their absentee ballots.

Absentee ballots without the fiscal analysis information will still be counted, Weaver said.

Also, some counties might have sent out absentee ballots late. Rickey Cole, executive director of the Mississippi Democratic Party said in a statement Tuesday that 20 counties had not mailed out absentee ballots as of last week. Hosemann countered with a statement that as of Monday, all counties had begun absentee voting.

Cole initially listed Madison County as one of the counties that had delayed sending out absentee ballots, but Lee Westbrook, Madison County circuit clerk, said she began mailing absentee ballots 45 days before the election, as required by law.

"My office was in complete compliance," Westbrook said. "... We have been voting since the day the law allowed absentee voting to begin."

Cole later apologized to Westbrook in another statement, admitting Madison County's inclusion on the list was a mistake and that Westbrook did her job as the law required.

Also included on Cole's list of counties not in compliance is Warren County. Shelly Ashley, Warren County circuit clerk, said her office has also been sending out ballots since the 45-day mark.

Circuit clerks for other central Mississippi counties on the list were not immediately available for comment.